Conservatory Blinds: A Quick Guide
Conservatories, or sun rooms as they may also be called, were at one time the province of the very wealthy, and were mostly an indoor place for plants to grow. Nowadays more and more people are able to have these beautiful rooms in their home, and while they enjoy the peace and relaxation of their conservatory, new owners may find themselves confronted with problems such as a lack of privacy, too much noise, or too little insulation. These problems are easily fixed with the right type of conservatory blinds, yet for many people the buying process can be overwhelming. To help I've written a quick guide walking you through the process - what you need to think about and which blinds meet your needs best.
First, Prioritize
The first thing you need to do is decide what is most important to you. Some common concerns include heat reduction in summer and/or insulation in winter, glare reduction, privacy and security, noise reduction, cost, and appearance. Each type of blind will have strengths and weaknesses so it's important to be organized. Make a list and decide what you absolutely can't live without, and what you want but don't necessarily need.
Once you've done that, you may want to consider some other factors as well. Do you need the blinds for your windows only, for your roof only, or for both roof and windows? You also need to consider the shape of the glazing - a conservatory with mostly rectangular glazing will allow you to be more flexible in your choices. Also think about what your conservatory is made of (timber, aluminum, or PVC, for example) so that you can pick blinds that match the best. Finally decide whether you prefer remote controlled or manually operated blinds, because some blind types are only available in one or the other.
Types of Conservatory Blinds
The most common, flexible, type of conservatory blinds are pleated blinds. These are suitable for most, if not all, conservatories. Standard blinds will work well provided your conservatory uses mostly rectangular glazing, but will be best used for your roof only. However, even if your conservatory is full of irregular shapes pleated blinds will work well. You will simply need to look for pleated blinds that are designed specifically for conservatories, as these will best meet the challenges you face. Generally speaking these provide the best value for your money, may be either remote or manually operated, and do a good job of keeping your conservatory cool and shaded, but though good, are not the absolute best when it comes to insulation.
Pinoleum blinds are another very common choice. Pinoleum, which is simply made of small pieces or wood/twigs laid horizontally then joined together, is a very flexible and a good fit for most conservatories. They provide better insulation than pleated blinds while creating a very pleasing, soft, look in summer. However, they can be slightly more difficult to clean than pleated blinds and don't provide quite as much privacy. Still a very good choice, however, as pinoleum blinds are widely available in many colors and styles.
Roman blinds are made in much the same style as pinoleum but with fabric instead of wood. These blinds offer the most privacy, while adding a bit of contemporary style to your room. They are mostly remote controlled, which makes them easy to operate. However, like pinoleum, they are more difficult to clean. They are also a little more expensive but if you truly want the contemporary look of roman blinds, don't let that stop you! These are most suitable for gable-ended conservatories.
Slightly less popular are roller, vertical, and venetian conservatory blinds. Roller blinds, while they can be used to great effect, may end up leaving gaps between blinds, and are not the best fit for your conservatory roof. Vertical blinds are best suited for very large glass windows without window sills, but do not work as well in conservatories with irregular shapes. One plus though, is that vertical blinds are relatively cheap. Venetian blinds are the least well suited for conservatories and are not generally recommended because they tend to generate static, collect dust, and lead to excess humidity.
Keep in mind that even the most inexpensive blinds can look great - provided you install them with care. When you shop for blinds be sure to ask plenty of questions and try to visualize what each type of blind will look like when installed, since many blinds can look better in pictures than they do in your room. Just prioritize and choose the appropriate type of blinds for your conservatory and I'm sure your search will go well.